Table of Contents
Miscellaneous
• From The Publishers
• Last Look: Syd Farber
Cover Story:
Where’s Everybody Going?
What’s causing some small businesses to pack up and leave? And what should we
be doing to stop them?
Feature Story:
The Excessive Costs
of Doing Business in New York
A productive Small Business Day in Albany, but worries still exist for Rockland-ites and other New York based businesses.
Feature Story:
How’d They Do That?
Follow Provident Bank CEO George Strayton’s strategies for success.
DEPARTMENTS:
Economics Roundup
• The Smart Investor
• Money Talk
Business Roundup
• Unlock Your Potential
• Marketing By Design
Retail Round-Up
• Talking Shop
• Odds & Ends
Ask the Expert
• Estate Planning
• Mortgage Advice
Invest in Your Community
• The Bottom Line
• First Annual Non-profit Leadership Summit
Dedicated Section:
Rockland Business Association:
The President’s Desk
A new voice for Rockland County and a new advocate for its hottest issues and concerns.
Pinnacles of Success
RBA’s best honored at the
Third Annual Pinnacle Awards.
RBA Happenings
• Committee and Council Info
• Calendar of Events
• New Members
The
Smart Investor
Investment Therapy:
Simplify, simplify, simplify.
By Ken Mahoney
Relax…take a deep breath…and say it with me, “Investing in stocks does not need to be complicated.” Say it again. Now make that your mantra, because it’s true.
Many people are convinced that they must do hours of research, read financial reports, and go through complex computations before they make decisions with stocks. Others think that investing in stocks is over their heads. The simple truth is that your approach to stock investment should only be as complicated as you want it to be. Sure, there is something to be said about staying informed in today’s market, but most people just don’t have the time to do involved research. You can simplify your decision making by following these pointers:
Have a plan
Before making any investment decision, write down your financial goals, describing in detail your financial needs at different points in your life, and make sure that your choices help you achieve those goals. Revise this plan periodically, but let it lead your choices.
Go with market leaders
They’re called leaders for a reason. These are well-established companies that have proven their worth in the market. Microsoft is a great example of a market leader: they aren’t likely to go belly-up anytime soon.
Make your world smaller
You can’t invest in everything, so limit yourself to investing in stocks from a single sector of an industry you’re interested in. You’ll be better off putting what little time you have into researching one sector, rather than spreading yourself thin.
Stay focused
Keep your objectives
in mind when picking stocks. For example, if your objective is
growth, don’t get side-tracked with industries that aren’t
growth industries.
Some people find pleasure in doing research, and perhaps over time you will too. But don’t worry about what everybody else is doing – find a strategy that you’re comfortable with and keep it simple. RBD
Smaller Stocks have had bigger returns so far in 2006
The market has been higher this year despite higher interest rates, higher energy prices, and unrest in the Middle East. So far this year, the 'muscle' has come from the Russell. The Russell 2000 stock index measures smaller companies. The Russell index is up over 10% while the S&P and Dow Industrial are up over 4%.
That might help explain why the Rockland Stock Index has done better than the S&P. Small Cap companies Dressbarn, Presidential Life, and Provident Bank have
powered the Rockland Stock Index. Dressbarn was the leading stock last year in the Rockland Stock Index, climbing an amazing 119%. This year the stock is up more than 33%. Dress Barn has topped earnings three times and met them once over its past four quarters, for an average upside surprise of nearly 20%.
Name Symbol Wachovia WB Wyeth Wye Dress Barn DBRN Verizon Vz Pharm Resources PRX AT&T T Usb Holding UBH Barr Labs BRL Provident Bank PBNY Footstar FTAR
FTAR Bank of NY BK Novartis NVS Gannet GCI Avon AVP Presidential Life Plfe Praxai PX Paxar PXR Lecroy LCRY ConEdison ED
This is for your information only and is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities or instruments mentioned. Information has been obtained or derived from sources believed by us to be reliable, but we do not represent that it is accurate, complete or timely. Any opinions or estimates contained constitute our judgement at date of publication and are subject to change without notice.This Stock Index is comprised of local stocks of interest based in Rockland County. The chart reflects the collective stock price performance based on a standardized benchmark of 1000 on January 1, 2003. Any market prices are only indicators of market values and are subject to change without notice. It is not possible for an investor to directly invest in the Rockland Stock Index.
